Higher surface temperatures near south polar region of the Moon measured by ChaSTE experiment on-board Chandrayaan-3

Water-ice prospecting is a crucial step in unlocking the Moon’s potential for supporting human habitat and furthering exploration. Lunar Temperatures not only dictate water-ice, but also drive other aspects of science and exploration. Global temperatures were mapped through remote sensing, but in-situ measurements are only from Apollo 15 and 17. Here, we provide the in-situ temperatures of top 10 cm of a high-latitude lunar regolith measured by Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment(ChaSTE), a thermal probe on-board Chandrayaan-3 lander. The surface peak temperature of 355 K from ChaSTE is higher than expected(330 K) owing to its deployment on a sunward illuminated local slope region of 6°. This demonstrates that local topography at metre scales can alter temperature at high latitudes, unlike equatorial regions. Numerical model calculations using ChaSTE measurements, suggest that larger poleward facing slopes(>14°) at high latitudes can harbour water-ice, making them promising and technically less challenging sites for future lunar exploration and habitation.